Carpet-stretcher.



J. C. OWENS.

CARPET STRETCH-ER.

APPLICATION FILED Nov.8.1913.

Patented Nov. 16, 1915,.

mm. v)

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

MH f.

WIM/8858:

j. C. OWENS.

CARPET STRETCHEH.

APPLICATION man Nov. 8, Isls.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

WITNESSES' nivrrnn ,sr-arr; rarivr orten,

JASPER C. OWENS, F BRIDGEPOR'I, CONNECTICUT, ASSGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOSILAS T. VELIE, OF BRIDGEPGRT, CONNECTICUT.

CARPET-STRETCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

rarement nov. ie, isis,

Application filed. November 8, 1913. l Serial No. 799,922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J Asrnn C. Ownns, citizen of the United States,residing atBridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and` useful Improvements inCarpet-Stretchers; and l do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make andV ure 1represents a side elevation of the carpet stretcher; Fig. 2 is a crosssectional view of the handle lever on line c (1,., andthe body portionon line Z) b of Fig. 1, showing the operating lever turned to oneside;'Fig. 3 is a broken view partly in section of the carpet stretcherin op-eration 0n a carpet laid Von a concrete floor; Fig. 4 is a brokenview of the stretcher equipped for laying linoleum; Fig. 5. is a brokenview of a modi-lied' construction adapted for use in laying heavy carpetand linoleum in connection with the ratchet feature of the device; Fig.6 is an upper plan view of the device shown in Fig. and Fig. 7represents a floor plan showing a carpet partially stretched and held bystay tacks.

T he device shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 consists of the tubular body 1adapted to receive the longitudinally movable rack 2 held againstforward movement by the pawl 3 pivotally located between the ears 3a ofthe body 1, and is kept in contact with the rack by means of the spring4. 5 is a link pivotally supported at one end to the screw 6 of the rackand the pin 7 of the stud 8 carried by the handle lever 9 having thespear point 10 in its forward end.V The foot 11 is provided with theretaining points 12 and it has the round, hollow shank 11L insertedwithin the body 1 and embracing the round rack 2 as shown more clearlyin Fig. 2. This shank and foot 11 are integral with the arm 11b, andsaid shank is retained in place by the spring retaining screw 4a. Theopposite end of the body 1 carries the angle piece 13 having thepressure plate portion 14 adapted to rest on thefloor and carrying theretaining point or spur l'adapted for use only on wooden floors. 16 is ametal cup secured to the rear end of the body 1, and 17 is a pad orbuffer secured to said cup,

the purpose of which will be presently eX- plained. 1n laying a carpetthe barbed foot 11 is located back from the edge of the carpet 18, Fig.3, and the operators knee will strike the pad 17 with force sutiicientto stretch the carpet toward the base board 19. ln doing this, theoperators knee will not forcibly rest on the plate 14 until after thecarpet has been kicked forward as far as can be done by the operatorsknee, then the operators weight is applied to plate 14 to hold thedevice in its advancedV position. The handle lever is then thrownforward with its spear point 10 anchored in the floor,

and when thus locatedI the pressure on plate 14 is then released andthelever 9 actuated back and forth to further advanceV the carpet, with theoperators knee against the pad, following up this advance so as toprevent the'device retreating, and hold it in its i advanced positionwhile the spear point is released and the handle lever thrown to oneside, Fig. 2, with the rack 2 out of engagement with its pawl so astogive a clear overhead space for the operator to drive the stay tacks c,Fig. 7, in the corners and at intervals around'the edge of the carpet.rlhe intermediate spaces d, between the stay tacks, are stretched bykicking the pad 17 as before mentioned. If desired, the operation abovedescribed may be reversed by first stretching the carpet as much aspossible by means of repeated blows against the pad and then applyingthehandle lever 9. When the handle lever 9 is moved forward to advancethe foot 11, the rack is held stationary by the pawl 3, and when thelever is reversed to get a fresh purchase, the rack is also retreated anotch or two, as the case may require, to give additional leverage forthe handle lever to further stretch the carpet.

For laying linoleum, the lever 20, Fig. 4, is pivotally supported on thescrew 6 and the link 5, which, in the previously describedconstructions, 4is also pivoted on this screw, is now pivoted on thescrew 21 located in the extension 22 of the lever 20. To prevent theretaining points of the foot 11 entering the linoleum, the shoe 23 istemporarily placed Lover the retaining points and the edfre of thelinoleum 24 ie brought around the shoe and gitrlgpawl 27, and 28'isa'rack retaining paivl pivotally supported on screw 29. 30 is overthe'top of the foot 11 and is held there Vtemporarily by the lever 20While the stretcher is operating. In laying linoleum the rack is alwaysheld stationary and the spur in plate 14 is removed.

. YThe construction shown in Figs., 5 and 6Y is particularly adapted forlaying very .Y

`otally supported onjjthescreyv 26 'ofthe projectie-jaaa integra-waitin@body 1. The;

loiver'endof this levercarries the rack actuan anchorplate pivotallyconnected to1 :the

taining points 31. f

In operating this device, the anchor plate Y is placed againstthe baseboard of the room and held thereby one foot of the operator restingthereonwitlisuficient pressure toV cause its `retaining pointsto holdWhile the operators other vfoot `Will rest on" the plate 14', at Atheopposite'end of the stretcher, with` just force enough to keep saidplate on the carpet, then the handle lever 25 'is actuated back andforth to advance thedevice and carry the carpet with "it toward the baseboardin position for tackiiig'.

In yusing this construction for linoleum,

Y the points 12'are protected bythe Shoe 23,

Fig. l, o'r by anyother yvell known means,

` the serrated faces of the'clamp 32 and the 'leg 11b .above lh@ 'fo-.Ot.112. 33 are theelamp- Y ing S'Cv's for said clamp.v

The retaining Apointor points 1 5 are not as theconcrete 'Hoor 34, ig. 13'. concrete floori'i`1`0..the"narrow Wooden stri a''fo'rms ha, Y f Y.

a iborfder around thegroom to' 'vvhich the car-VV Copies of this patentmay be obtained for` five cents each, by

'ff (i f' wf gc "I and theedge of the linole'um is heldbetiveen Havingthus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A carpet stretchercomprising a tubular body, a rack longitudinally movable therein, abarbed foot carried by the body adapted Yto grip Vthe carpet, a spearpointed handle lever, a link pivotally connected to the lever and-rack,apaivl to engage the rack and hold the same stationary ivhen the handlelever is actuated to stretch the carpet and to retreat to a new fixedposition when the handle lever isthroivn back.

2. A carpet stretcher comprising a tubular body, a rack longitudinallyand rotatably movable therein, a spear pointed handle lever,`a link,pivotally connected to the lever and rack, a paivl' to engage the rackand hold Y the same stationary when the handle lever is outerend ofthelink and carries the reactuated to stretch the carpet, and to retreat toa, neu7 fixed position when ,the handle l .s lever is thrown back, abarbed foot having a 'holloiv shank adapted to lbe inserted in theforward end of the tubular body and enibracing the rack, said rackadapted to rotate 4to throw the handle lever to one side to give a clearopen space for driving tacks.

A c'arpet stretcher comprising a tubulai- Ibody, arack longitudinallymovable therein,

a spear pointed handle lever, a link pivto stretchthe carpet, and toretreat to a new and lixed'position when the handle lever isthrowii'back, a barbed foot connected to the forward end of the rack, apressure plate 4 connected vto the rear end of the rack, and a cupcarrying a' builerpad connected to the rear yendofthe rack and locatedabove the pressure plate.

In testimony whereof 1 aliix my signature in presence of tivo Witnesses.

JASPER C. OXVENS.

WM. CoNoLnY, Jr.

addressing the Commissicner of Patents,

